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Bible Pathways 04/23/2003

2016Apr 23

COMMENTS

April 23

Read I Kings 5 -- 7

In Today's Reading:

Solomon builds the temple; furnishings of the temple and his own palace

Solomon's temple was twice the size of the tabernacle, but it was still comparatively small, only 90 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 45 feet tall. The interior was divided into two rooms. The first room was called the holy place and was 60 by 30 feet; the second room was called the holy of holies and was 30 feet square.

In the four hundred eightieth year after the Israelites came out from the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv the second month he built the temple for the LORD (I Kings 6:1). No other building in the world compared with Solomon's temple. The most costly materials and treasures were lavished upon it. But the world observed only the external beauty of the temple; its true glory was in the presence of God who chose to dwell within the holy of holies.

The temple was built without the noise of craftsmen since the stones were shaped in the quarry and made ready to fit together on Mount Moriah (6:7). This should remind us not to mistake noise for spiritual progress. We are transformed into His glorious likeness, not by noisy human efforts, but silently by the power of the Holy Spirit, as day by day God perfects His temple within every believer (Zechariah 4:6).

Every child of God is more precious to our heavenly Father than Solomon's temple. You are God's sanctuary (I Corinthians 3:16). We are His making, created in Christ Jesus (born anew) for good works, which God prepared ahead of time (Ephesians 2:10).

Every day is a sacred trust that becomes more meaningful with the awareness that the God of heaven lives within every believer. The miracle of the new birth and the indwelling Holy Spirit are the differences between the true Christian and the religious world. Jesus said: I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6). The apostle Peter attested: There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).

Christ Revealed:

Through the temple (I Kings 6). Christ is the true Temple (John 2: 21). God Himself prepared Christ's body (Hebrews 10:5). Through Christ all may have access to God (Romans 5:12-21). For through Him we . . . have access by one Spirit to the Father (Ephesians 2:18).

Government Official: Rep. Fred Upton (MI) · Country: Antigua and Barbuda (64,000) in the Leeward Islands of the eastern Caribbean · Major languages: English and local dialects · Religious freedom · 83% Protestant; 11% Roman Catholic · Prayer Suggestion: Pray and depend upon the Lord when in need for He will not forsake you (Isaiah 41:17).